Vesemir and Geralt stared at the lake's surface.
When Arwen emerged from the water, their catlike eyes froze for a second before their pupils suddenly dilated.
Filthy blood streamed from beneath the Drowned Dead's hideous head, staining the river red.
Even Vesemir's breathing grew slightly ragged.
A witcher apprentice had killed a Drowned Dead single-handedly underwater. Had Vesemir heard that before, he would never have believed it and would even have mocked the speaker to their face for dreaming the impossible.
Yet now, the proof was right before his eyes.
Arwen had barely emerged from the water when, before his body could adjust, an intense sense of weightlessness made him stumble.
Vesemir shot forward like lightning and caught him firmly.
"Arwen!?"
Geralt followed close behind.
Vesemir took one glance and shouted.
"Geralt, he's lost a lot of blood. The Golden Oriole! Get the Golden Oriole out, quickly!"
Geralt swiftly took a black bottle from the pouch full of potions at his waist and pulled out the oak stopper.
Arwen opened his mouth, bit down on the bottle's rim, and drank all the Golden Oriole. Its bitterness bored into his throat, and the tearing pain throughout his body soon eased.
Viris hurried over and said urgently, "Don't stay here. His body temperature is too low. He needs a warm fire. Go to the camp."
Geralt grunted in acknowledgment. Without waiting for Arwen's consent, he hoisted him onto his shoulder and sprinted toward the cliffside camp.
At the cliffside camp.
Vesemir formed the Igni Sign with his right hand toward the campfire. It ignited instantly, sending up orange-red flames.
Geralt laid Arwen on the wool blanket they had already spread out.
"That's enough. Move aside and give me some room."
Viris held out both hands, palms facing Arwen, and began chanting a spell as magic surged.
Green motes emerged from her fair palms and flew toward Arwen's entire body like countless fireflies.
The green motes enveloped his horrifying wounds, which healed at a visible rate.
Arwen let out a comfortable sigh, feeling as soothed all over as though he had drunk a cup of warm tea on a cold winter's day.
Geralt stood quietly to one side, watching the scene, unconcealable curiosity and astonishment flashing through his catlike eyes.
Apart from Viris's flight earlier and his own Signs, this was his first time observing magic closely.
With his extensive experience, Vesemir recognized the Healing Spell at a glance. Given who she was, Arwen's life was in no danger.
Viris glanced at the two of them.
"Stop staring. Go prepare something to eat."
Vesemir turned and said, "Geralt, put the broth we prepared on to boil. I'll go keep an eye on Aiken and the others."
Geralt shrugged. "Mm."
Thirty minutes later.
Arwen had sat up, both hands pulling the wool blanket tight around him. The campfire's flames reflected in his catlike eyes, and his stiff body had grown much warmer.
Sitting beside him, Geralt ladled a bowl of broth from the earthenware pot over the fire and handed it to him.
Arwen accepted it with both hands. It was so peaceful that they could hear the firewood crackling.
Geralt said nothing, merely patting him on the shoulder.
Everything went without saying.
Arwen knew that, after this battle, he had truly become part of Kaer Morhen-not as an apprentice, but as a witcher.
"Get some rest. I'll go take a look over there."
With that, Geralt rose and walked toward the cliff's edge.
Vesemir and Viris watched the apprentices' movements below while talking in low voices.
Seeing Geralt approach, Vesemir asked.
"How is Arwen?"
Geralt said, "He's recovering well."
Vesemir gave Viris a grateful look.
Viris said, "There's no need to thank me. I did it willingly. I would have helped even if he were a stranger."
"But there's one thing. Did you notice that nearly ten minutes passed after the Drowned Dead dragged Arwen underwater?"
"That would be enough time for someone to suffocate even if they stayed motionless underwater, yet Arwen could still fight and even kill the Drowned Dead. It's truly incredible."
Hearing this, Geralt inwardly agreed with Viris.
Vesemir thought for a moment before saying, "Lady Viris, witcher mutations bring enormous changes to the human body. According to past records, those changes aren't limited to the skin and catlike eyes. There are others."
"Take the hair of Geralt here beside me. That was the result of a second mutation, which also gave him stronger physical capabilities."
"As for Arwen, perhaps his lungs underwent a second mutation, making them far stronger than an ordinary witcher's."
Viris chuckled but did not argue.
She had lived for centuries and seen all manner of strange bodies, yet she had never heard of a second mutation of the lungs.
Vesemir was clearly protecting Arwen with those words, not wanting her to interfere too much.
Suddenly, the three looked down and saw an apprentice backed against the rock wall, with three drowners surrounding him. The silver sword in his hand was visibly trembling. The situation had become critical.
Without the slightest hesitation, all three sprang into action.
Sitting beside the fire, Arwen finished his full bowl of broth and noticed the three leaving.
He glanced at Blyde, who was still unconscious nearby, before opening the system panel.
"A Drowned Dead. A boss-level mutagen."
He could not help rubbing his palms together, anticipation rising within him.
[Drowned Dead Mutagen: Installing this mutagen slightly increases speed and grants the yellow talent Low-Level Water Element Affinity]
Like the drowner's, it offered a slight increase in speed, but the talent listed afterward made Arwen's eyes light up.
[Low-Level Water Element Affinity (yellow): Grants affinity with the water element. While meditating, you can begin to sense the paths of water elements in the world]
"The water element, one of the four great elements."
"Lady Viris told me that mutations make it extremely difficult for witchers to sense the elements."
"My earlier meditation proved she was right. I didn't gain even one experience point in two hours."
"But now, all of that will change."
Arwen could barely keep the joy from showing at the corners of his mouth.
"Install the Drowned Dead Mutagen!"
[Drowned Dead Mutagen successfully installed]
In an instant, Arwen felt a cool sensation spread from his spine throughout his limbs and body.
He felt something flowing through his field of vision, constantly gathering toward the White Stone River beside him.
"It's the water element!"
Suppressing his excitement, Arwen hurriedly closed his eyes and followed the meditation method. Soon, he sensed those tiny, pale-blue points of light.
[Basic Meditation experience +1!]
Hearing the system notification, Arwen's heart beat a little faster with excitement.
His Basic Meditation experience had finally broken past zero!
Going from nothing to something-this was a world-shaking change.
Grind. Keep grinding!